Scored using Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0
Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0: technical specifications plus authentic consumer ratings, with 0% commercial bias.
Explore Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0

Bluesound Pulse 2I Review | 130 Data compared

Avg. price:~£750Audio output power:150.00 WBattery life:?IP rating:?Bluetooth version:5.0Weight:5050 g

Bluesound Pulse 2I Review: Compare 130 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Portable Speakers category and whether it is worth buying.

Bluesound Pulse 2I
7.2/10

Overall score

Score
7.2/ 10
✕
What it is
An overall evaluation of products in the Portable Speakers category, based on technical analysis and user reviews.
When it matters
When you need a quick reference for identifying the best products in the Portable Speakers category.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

80%

7.2

Technical score

20%

7.4

User score

â–²Better than 79% of portable speakers
7.0

Value for money

Value for money
7.0/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the overall score of products in the Portable Speakers category with their prices.
When it matters
When you are comparing products in the Portable Speakers category and want a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

70%

7.2

Overall score

30%

6.6

Price

â–¼Worse than 93%
7.2

Technical score

Technical score
7.2/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Portable Speakers category across these key areas: Audio, Connectivity, Battery, Durability, Controls, Design, Smart features.
When it matters
When you want to compare products in the Portable Speakers category by technical performance, specifications, and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

32%

8.3

Audio

20%

6.8

Battery

18%

6.1

Durability

16%

6.6

Connectivity

8%

7.8

Controls

3%

4.4

Design

3%

9.1

Smart features

â–²Better than 85%
7.4

User score

User score
7.4/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews with the total review volume for products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you want to know how products in the Portable Speakers category perform in everyday use and how reliable owners find them over time.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

70%

8.2

User ratings

30%

5.4

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
â–¼Worse than 84%
  • bluesound-pulse-2i
  • bluesound-pulse-2i
  • bluesound-pulse-2i
  • bluesound-pulse-2i
  • bluesound-pulse-2i
  • bluesound-pulse-2i
  • bluesound-pulse-2i
  • bluesound-pulse-2i
  • bluesound-pulse-2i
bluesound-pulse-2i
bluesound-pulse-2i
bluesound-pulse-2i
bluesound-pulse-2i
bluesound-pulse-2i
bluesound-pulse-2i
bluesound-pulse-2i
bluesound-pulse-2i
bluesound-pulse-2i
Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
Loading...
Loading category ranking...

Technical Specifications of portable speaker Bluesound Pulse 2I

Technical score
Technical score
7.2/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Portable Speakers category across these key areas: Audio, Connectivity, Battery, Durability, Controls, Design, Smart features.
When it matters
When you want to compare products in the Portable Speakers category by technical performance, specifications, and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components:

32%

8.3

Audio

20%

6.8

Battery

18%

6.1

Durability

16%

6.6

Connectivity

8%

7.8

Controls

3%

4.4

Design

3%

9.1

Smart features

7.2
User score
User score
7.4/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews with the total review volume for products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you want to know how products in the Portable Speakers category perform in everyday use and how reliable owners find them over time.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

70%

8.2

User ratings

30%

5.4

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
7.4
Popularity
Popularity
5.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator based on the number of reviews received by products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you prefer products in the Portable Speakers category that have been chosen and reviewed by many other buyers.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Popularity:
Bluesound Pulse 2I has a popularity score of 5.4 points, which is higher than 58.5% of products in this category.
5.4
Value for money
Value for money
7.0/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the overall score of products in the Portable Speakers category with their prices.
When it matters
When you are comparing products in the Portable Speakers category and want a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components:

70%

7.2

Overall score

30%

6.6

Price

7.0
Audio output power
150 W
This portable speaker has an audio output power of 150 W which is higher than that of 94.5% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.4% of portable speakers.
Driver unit size
133 mm
This portable speaker has a driver unit size of 133 mm which is larger than that of 94% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.9% of portable speakers.
Number of drivers
4
This portable speaker has 4 drivers, which is more than 81.7% of portable speakers and equal to the number in 11.9% of portable speakers.
Frequency response tolerance
1 dB
This portable speaker has a frequency response tolerance of 1 dB which is lower than that of 95% of portable speakers and equal to that of 5% of portable speakers.
Lowest frequency
40 Hz
This portable speaker has a lowest frequency of 40 Hz which is lower than that of 74.9% of portable speakers and equal to that of 4.6% of portable speakers.
Show more
Bluetooth connectivity
yes
This portable speaker supports Bluetooth audio. 5.4% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Bluetooth version
5
This portable speaker supports Bluetooth version 5 which is newer than that of 46.3% of portable speakers and equal to that of 24.4% of portable speakers.
Maximum Bluetooth range
10 m
This portable speaker has a maximum Bluetooth range of 10 m which is longer than that of 4.3% of portable speakers and equal to that of 70.2% of portable speakers.
Bluetooth profiles supported
A2DP; AVRCP
Bluetooth LE Audio
no
This portable speaker does not support Bluetooth LE Audio. 2.5% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more
Battery life
?
Battery capacity
?
Charging time
?
Maximum charging input power
?
Built-in rechargeable battery
no
This portable speaker does not have a built-in rechargeable battery. 81.4% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Requires wired mains power and has no built-in rechargeable operating battery.
Show more
IP rating
?
Water resistance
no
This portable speaker is not water resistant. 61.7% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Dust resistance
no
This portable speaker is not rated as dust resistant. 51.5% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Waterproof depth rating
?
Drop resistance
?
Show more
On-device controls placement
top
Touchscreen
no
This portable speaker does not have a touchscreen. 0.3% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Smartphone app control
yes
This portable speaker supports smartphone app control. 46.1% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Compatible mobile app provides speaker control or settings.
Remote control
no
This portable speaker does not include a remote control. 15% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Fast pairing
no
This portable speaker does not support fast pairing. 22.5% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more
Weight
5,050 g
This portable speaker weighs 5,050 g which is heavier than that of 89% of portable speakers.
Height
19.8 cm
This portable speaker has a height of 19.8 cm which is taller than that of 76% of portable speakers.
Width
42 cm
This portable speaker has a width of 42 cm which is wider than that of 94.2% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.1% of portable speakers.
Depth
19.2 cm
This portable speaker has a depth of 19.2 cm which is deeper than that of 89.3% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.1% of portable speakers.
Carry options
handle
Show more
Companion app name
BluOS Controller
Firmware updates
yes
This portable speaker supports firmware updates. 52.9% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Supports user-accessible firmware updates.
Firmware update method
OTA; App; USB
Voice assistant support
yes
This portable speaker supports voice assistants. 73.6% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Supports direct voice-assistant control.
Spotify Connect
yes
This portable speaker supports Spotify Connect. 89.3% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more

Bluesound Pulse 2I vs the average portable speaker

246810TotalAudioConnectivityBatteryDurabilityControlsDesignSmart features
  • 130 W more audio output power
    This portable speaker has more audio output power than the average portable speaker (150 W vs 20 W).
    150 W vs 20 W
  • 83 mm larger main driver
    This portable speaker has a larger main driver than the average portable speaker (133 mm vs 50 mm).
    133 mm vs 50 mm
  • Supports Wi-Fi connectivity
    This portable speaker supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average portable speaker does not support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • 2 more speaker drivers
    This portable speaker has more speaker drivers than the average portable speaker (4 vs 2).
    4 vs 2
  • 2 dB tighter frequency-response tolerance
    This portable speaker has a tighter frequency-response tolerance than the average portable speaker (1 dB vs 3 dB).
    1 dB vs 3 dB
  • Supports AirPlay
    This portable speaker supports AirPlay, while the average portable speaker does not support AirPlay.
  • Has built-in stereo speakers
    This portable speaker has built-in stereo speakers, while the average portable speaker does not have built-in stereo speakers.
    Provides true stereo output within the unit.
  • Has an equalizer
    This portable speaker has an equalizer, while the average portable speaker does not have an equalizer.
    Offers user-selectable EQ, tone adjustment, or sound presets.
  • 130 W more audio output power
    This portable speaker has more audio output power than the average portable speaker (150 W vs 20 W).
    150 W vs 20 W
  • 83 mm larger main driver
    This portable speaker has a larger main driver than the average portable speaker (133 mm vs 50 mm).
    133 mm vs 50 mm
  • 2 more speaker drivers
    This portable speaker has more speaker drivers than the average portable speaker (4 vs 2).
    4 vs 2
  • 2 dB tighter frequency-response tolerance
    This portable speaker has a tighter frequency-response tolerance than the average portable speaker (1 dB vs 3 dB).
    1 dB vs 3 dB
  • Has built-in stereo speakers
    This portable speaker has built-in stereo speakers, while the average portable speaker does not have built-in stereo speakers.
    Provides true stereo output within the unit.
  • 8 dB SPL higher maximum sound pressure
    This portable speaker has a higher maximum sound pressure level than the average portable speaker (100 dB SPL vs 92 dB SPL).
    100 dB SPL vs 92 dB SPL
  • 0.97 % lower total harmonic distortion
    This portable speaker has lower total harmonic distortion than the average portable speaker (0 % vs 1 %).
    0.03 % vs 1 %
  • 20 Hz deeper bass extension
    This portable speaker has deeper bass extension than the average portable speaker (40 Hz vs 60 Hz).
    40 Hz vs 60 Hz
  • 35 ms lower audio latency
    This portable speaker has lower audio latency than the average portable speaker (50 ms vs 85 ms).
    50 ms vs 85 ms
  • Supports Wi-Fi connectivity
    This portable speaker supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average portable speaker does not support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Supports AirPlay
    This portable speaker supports AirPlay, while the average portable speaker does not support AirPlay.
  • 1 more USB ports
    This portable speaker has more USB ports than the average portable speaker (2 vs 1).
    2 vs 1
  • Supports aptX HD
    This portable speaker supports aptX HD, while the average portable speaker does not support aptX HD.
  • Has a TOSLINK optical input
    This portable speaker has a TOSLINK optical input, while the average portable speaker does not have a TOSLINK optical input.
    Has a physical TOSLINK optical audio input.
  • Has Ethernet support
    This portable speaker has Ethernet support, while the average portable speaker does not have Ethernet support.
  • Wi-Fi standard detailed
    This portable speaker supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), while the average portable speaker supports Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n).
    Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) vs Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
  • Has an equalizer
    This portable speaker has an equalizer, while the average portable speaker does not have an equalizer.
    Offers user-selectable EQ, tone adjustment, or sound presets.
  • 2 more adjustable EQ bands
    This portable speaker has more adjustable EQ bands than the average portable speaker (2 vs 0).
    2 vs 0
  • Supports party mode
    This portable speaker supports party mode, while the average portable speaker does not support party mode.
    Supports synchronized multi-speaker party/group playback.
  • Supports playback mute
    This portable speaker supports playback mute, while the average portable speaker does not support playback mute.
    Speaker playback audio can be directly muted.
  • Has a sleep timer
    This portable speaker has a sleep timer, while the average portable speaker does not have a sleep timer.
    A selectable timer can stop playback or power the speaker down.
  • Supports multi-room audio
    This portable speaker supports multi-room audio, while the average portable speaker does not support multi-room audio.
    Supports synchronized multi-room playback.
  • Supports Spotify Connect
    This portable speaker supports Spotify Connect, while the average portable speaker does not support Spotify Connect.
  • Supports voice assistants
    This portable speaker supports voice assistants, while the average portable speaker does not support voice assistants.
    Supports direct voice-assistant control.
  • Supports firmware updates
    This portable speaker supports firmware updates, while the average portable speaker does not support firmware updates.
    Supports user-accessible firmware updates.
  • Supports Tidal Connect
    This portable speaker supports Tidal Connect, while the average portable speaker does not support Tidal Connect.
  • Is not water resistant
    This portable speaker is not water resistant, while the average portable speaker is water resistant.
  • Is not rated as dust resistant
    This portable speaker is not rated as dust resistant, while the average portable speaker is dust resistant.
  • 1 fewer microphones
    This portable speaker has fewer microphones than the average portable speaker (0 vs 1).
    0 vs 1
  • Does not have a built-in rechargeable battery
    This portable speaker does not have a built-in rechargeable battery, while the average portable speaker has a built-in rechargeable battery.
    Requires wired mains power and has no built-in rechargeable operating battery.
  • Does not include a passive radiator
    This portable speaker does not include a passive radiator, while the average portable speaker includes a passive radiator.
  • 4,250 g heavier
    This portable speaker is heavier than the average portable speaker (5,050 g vs 800 g).
    5,050 g vs 800 g
  • 7 fewer paired devices remembered
    This portable speaker remembers fewer paired devices than the average portable speaker (1 vs 8).
    1 vs 8
  • Does not have a battery level indicator
    This portable speaker does not have a battery level indicator, while the average portable speaker has a battery level indicator.
  • 8.33x more expensive
    Bluesound Pulse 2I is more expensive than the average portable speaker (£750 vs £90).
    £750 vs £90
  • 7.3% worse value for money
    Bluesound Pulse 2I offers worse value for money than the average portable speaker (7.03 vs 7.5).
    7.03 vs 7.55
  • 8.5% lower user score
    User score
    7.4/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    A rating that combines user reviews with the total review volume for products in the Portable Speakers category.
    When it matters
    When you want to know how products in the Portable Speakers category perform in everyday use and how reliable owners find them over time.
    Score distribution
    ▼▼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    Bluesound Pulse 2I
    the average portable speaker
    Bluesound Pulse 2I has a lower user score than the average portable speaker (7.37 vs 8).
    7.37 vs 8
  • 1 fewer microphones
    This portable speaker has fewer microphones than the average portable speaker (0 vs 1).
    0 vs 1
  • Does not include a passive radiator
    This portable speaker does not include a passive radiator, while the average portable speaker includes a passive radiator.
  • 7 fewer paired devices remembered
    This portable speaker remembers fewer paired devices than the average portable speaker (1 vs 8).
    1 vs 8
  • Does not have a built-in rechargeable battery
    This portable speaker does not have a built-in rechargeable battery, while the average portable speaker has a built-in rechargeable battery.
    Requires wired mains power and has no built-in rechargeable operating battery.
  • Does not have a battery level indicator
    This portable speaker does not have a battery level indicator, while the average portable speaker has a battery level indicator.
  • Is not water resistant
    This portable speaker is not water resistant, while the average portable speaker is water resistant.
  • Is not rated as dust resistant
    This portable speaker is not rated as dust resistant, while the average portable speaker is dust resistant.
  • Does not provide voice prompts
    This portable speaker does not provide voice prompts, while the average portable speaker provides voice prompts.
    No spoken status prompts; feedback is absent, visual, or tone-based.
  • 4,250 g heavier
    This portable speaker is heavier than the average portable speaker (5,050 g vs 800 g).
    5,050 g vs 800 g
  • 23.9 cm wider
    This portable speaker is wider than the average portable speaker (42 cm vs 18.1 cm).
    42 cm vs 18.1 cm
  • 10.9 cm deeper
    This portable speaker is deeper than the average portable speaker (19.2 cm vs 8.3 cm).
    19.2 cm vs 8.3 cm
  • 7.4 cm taller
    This portable speaker is taller than the average portable speaker (19.8 cm vs 12.4 cm).
    19.8 cm vs 12.4 cm

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

W
whathifi.com
02/10/2018
Summary of the review
R
rtings.com
16/10/2023
Summary of the review
S
soundstagesimplifi.com
15/03/2019
Summary of the review
A
avforums.com
11/06/2019
Summary of the review
H
hifi.de
21/01/2022
Summary of the review
A
areadvd.de
05/06/2019
Summary of the review
H
hifi-regler.de
15/06/2019
Summary of the review
H
hifi-regler.de
15/06/2019
Summary of the review
A
afdigitale.it
02/10/2018
Summary of the review

Third-party reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
Reviews last updated: August 2026 · How we calculate this

What customers like about Bluesound Pulse 2I

  • Exceptional audiophile-grade sound quality with clear highs and sparkling mids
  • Powerful, room-filling volume performance with minimal distortion
  • Robust wireless and physical connectivity including dual-band Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, and Bluetooth aptX HD
  • Seamless multi-room audio integration and ecosystem pairing via the BluOS platform
  • Extensive high-resolution audio format support including FLAC, MQA, and WAV
  • Convenient direct playback options for local files via USB drive

What customers don't like about Bluesound Pulse 2I

  • Premium, high price point compared to similar multi-room speakers
  • The BluOS companion application can be complex, unintuitive, and clunky to navigate
  • Occasional Wi-Fi and network connectivity drops reported by some users
  • Inconsistent and laggy voice assistant integration with Alexa and Google Assistant
  • Requires being plugged into a mains outlet, limiting true outdoor portability without buying an extra battery pack
  • Lacks comprehensive manual controls on the physical touchpad, relying too heavily on the app

Verdict

The Bluesound Pulse 2i is a premium premium home wireless speaker featuring a true stereo active design with 150 watts of total bi-amplified power, utilizing dual 5.25-inch woofers (65W each) and dual 1-inch dome tweeters (10W each) to deliver a 45Hz–20kHz frequency response. Key characteristics and pros include its support for 24-bit/192kHz high-resolution audio (including FLAC and MQA), dual-band Wi-Fi 5, two-way Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD, Apple AirPlay 2, and seamless multi-room integration via the BluOS app. However, despite being relatively compact at 11.1 pounds, it is not a truly portable outdoor speaker as it is a wired-only device that requires a continuous AC power connection and lacks built-in battery operation, while also experiencing audio compression at maximum volumes and lacking a full graphic EQ.

Compare Bluesound Pulse 2I with other products in the Portable Speakers category

1Product to compare no. 1
VS
2Product to compare no. 2
VS
3Product to compare no. 3 (optional)

Graphic comparison of Bluesound Pulse 2I and other products in the Portable Speakers category

No results found